How Home Insulation Works in the Summer

May 18, 2020

When most people think of home insulation in Northern California, it’s safe to assume they think it just protects them from harsh winter weather. However, that’s not the case—insulation works 24/7, 365 days a year to keep homes comfortable while lowering energy bills. Keep reading to learn more about how your home’s insulation works during the steamy summer months:

  • Retains cool air: You may not notice it, but interior air leaks out through your walls and ceiling throughout the summer. Insulation is your top defense against this air leakage, which makes your home less comfortable and is a huge waste of energy.
  • Diminishes heat gain: While the insulation works to keep conditioned air in, it’s also ensuring that hot air stays out. Though some types of siding and roof tiles can reduce heat gain from outside, insulation is the best defender. Proper insulation throughout your home, and particularly up in the attic, blocks a ton of heat from creeping in.
  • Reduces AC unit strain: The less your AC unit has to work during the summer to cool your home, the better. An AC system in an under-insulated house is more likely to break down sooner, as it constantly has to cycle on and off to cool the space. Updating your insulation can prevent these breakdowns and prolong the lifespan of your unit.

Where should insulation be added?

Adding more home insulation in Northern California is the key to lower energy bills and a more comfortable living space. Here are the key places to add insulation this spring:

  • Attic: Your roof is responsible for most of the heat gain during the summer, so the attic is the top place you’ll want to add insulation. Blown-in insulation is a fine choice for the attic, but upgrading to spray foam insulation could save you big bucks during the summer months.
  • Exterior walls: All exterior walls should already have insulation in them, but there’s not always enough insulation to keep a home comfortable and energy efficient. We recommend having an energy audit performed to determine which walls could benefit from some extra coverage.
  • Garage: We find that many garages are under-insulated or don’t have any insulation at all. That’s not good! An attached garage should have just as much insulation as the rest of the home to further diminish heat gain during the summer.

Other ways to reduce interior heat this summer

Though bolstering your insulation is the best way to keep your home cool and lower your energy costs, it’s not all you can do. Opening windows and turning on ceiling fans improves air circulation throughout your house. Better airflow lowers the temperature without running the AC and racking up high energy bills.

Whether you’re a current homeowner looking to add more home insulation in Northern California or a builder working on a project, Ace Insulation Inc. is the team to call for your insulation needs. We offer a wide range of insulation services that are sure to meet your needs and fit within your budget.

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